8:44am Saturday 9th February 2008
By Jim Jack
OBJECTIONS over sewage, size and the impact on the Conservation Area have been raised by Otley councillors against a scheme to replace a pub with housing.
Horsforth-based Chartford Homes has applied to demolish the Summercross pub, on East Busk Lane, to make way for 14 new terraced houses.
The new four-bedroom properties would be split into one block of 11 homes and another of three, and include a mixture of integral and detached garages.
The proposals are being opposed by campaign group Save Our Summercross (SOS), which is calling for the pub - closed suddenly last October - to be reopened.
Otley Town council's plans committee debated the proposals at its last meeting. Speaking afterwards, the chairman, Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon), said: "It got the thumbs down in a big way. There were quite a number of issues. The first was that it was difficult to decide from the plans provided how high the proposed buildings would be.
"And with the size of the integral' garages there was some doubt about whether you could actually drive a car into them easily - or if you could, about how you'd then get the door open to get out.
"People didn't like knocking the pub down because it's a significant building at the entrance to Otley's Conservation Area and it defines the extent of Otley, and particularly of what was a former traditionally working class area.
"The sewer was brought up as well because there is a main sewer under the site which has had a nasty tendency to flood. One of the residents from a neighbouring property, David McQueen, has contacted me to say his garden gets flooded and has given information about 18 incidents over around 16 years, so obviously he doesn't want them disturbing the sewage system in case it causes this to recur.
"The developers also propose to lower the height of the wall that surrounds the Summercross and knock a hole in it to give access to the unmade street at the back.
"That was frowned upon as it was thought by the committee that the wall was nice as it was, and it has probably been there for 100 years or more."
The council's comments will now be passed to planners at Leeds City Council, which will make the ultimate decision on the scheme.
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